TestFlight?

[tenumars]

What is being improved?

Hi, I currently have an active Apple dev membership and was wondering if it is possible to get this on TestFlight? Happy to host it myself, but just to make updating and such easier.

Current behaviour

Manual install.

Proposed behaviour

Install via TestFlight / update.

Reason / benefit

Easier updates

Area affected

Other

Additional context

No response

[gerageragarza-prog]

It would be very interesting, and I could help by using it during my gym sessions, my bowling training sessions, as well as in tournaments.

[tigercraft4]

Hey @tenumars, thanks for the offer!

The short answer is: it's possible, but it's not straightforward. Since TestFlight distribution is tied to the app owner's Apple Developer account, you'd need to fork the repo and set up your own build pipeline — which means:

• Changing the Bundle ID to one registered under your account
• Recreating the provisioning profiles for HealthKit, Bluetooth background, and Location entitlements
• Setting up a CI/CD pipeline to cross-compile the Rust core for iOS (the prebuilt .a files aren't committed)
• Signing and uploading to your own App Store Connect

The bigger issue is that your fork would drift from this repo over time — every update would require a manual sync, rebuild, and re-upload on your end.

A simpler alternative if you just want easier installs: I could add a GitHub Actions workflow that produces a signed .ipa you can sideload with AltStore or Sideloadly — no developer account needed on your end, and the process would be documented. Updates would still be manual but straightforward.

I'll set up a Discord channel so we can discuss this further — it'll be easier to go back and forth there than in a GitHub thread. I'll drop the link here once it's ready.

[tigercraft4]

Here's the Discord link: https://discord.gg/EyZE6gzAF2 — join and we can figure out the best approach together!

[tigercraft4]

Thanks for the interest! TestFlight distribution requires an active Apple Developer Program membership ($99/year), which isn't in place for this project right now.

In the meantime, Goose is available via AltStore — it's free and works without a developer account. See the README for install instructions.

If you've already tried AltStore and hit a specific issue, let us know what you're running into and we can help. Otherwise, we'll revisit TestFlight when developer program enrollment is on the roadmap.

[tenumars]

Gotcha. Yeah totally understandable. I currently have the Apple developer license so I am happy to host on TestFlight if you would like. I believe I only need to change the bundle id and can even have it tied to the main branch of your repo without a fork being needed, but it's not my code so don't want to take credit for something not mine, yk? Anyways I'm happy to set it up / host if that makes things easy

[tigercraft4]

Yes open a pr to change
Feel free to send me a message on discord so we can discuss a little better

[PascalTrm]

Sorry to jump in here. Using AltStore doesn’t allow me to sync to apple health though, correct?
That would only work with TestFlight?

That is currently what is holding me back from switching to Goose.

[tenumars]

TLDR of hosting, unfortunately it would more than likely result in an apple account getting taken down / banned due to the nature of the product, so probably not going to happen sadly. For Apple health, you can go through xcode development for free, and it uses apple health.

[tigercraft4]

Reopening this — TestFlight is back on the table.

The only thing blocking it is the Apple Developer Program membership ($99/year). Goose has no revenue and no backing, so it hasn't been worth the cost while AltStore works for sideloading. That said, the friction of AltStore is real and TestFlight would make distribution significantly better.

If donations through docs/DONATIONS.md cover the membership cost, I'll enrol and move Goose to TestFlight. BTC, ETH, and SOL addresses are in that file — one-off, no account needed.

Leaving this open as a signal: there's genuine interest, and the path to making it happen is clear.